The Origins of Modern Human Language

There have been many theories concerning about the origin of phonetic sounds of languages in the world. One study suggests that human sounds for communications may have evolved from imitated sounds from animals and wind by our ancient predecessors. Another theory proposes that language sounds evolved from the communication between mother and baby, with the mother repeating the baby's babbling and giving it a meaning. That is for instance why the word ''mama'' and mother have the same meaning in nearly all world languages.

Meanwhile, a researcher analyzing the sounds in languages spoken around the world has detected an ancient signal that points to southern Africa as the place where modern human languages originated. But due to the rapid changes of modern language, many experts believe that it is impossible to trace back the origin of the modern language.

How did human get from animal sound to human language? It is an intriguing question until today; perhaps nobody can really determine the history of modern human language.

As regarding the origin of language, it should be noted when evolution of human being was discussed by early people, early attempts were made to linking human language to animal communication. Animals often make use of signs and distinctive sounds as a form communication, rather than use symbols, which are arbitrary and conventional.

So, when did language exactly begin, and how?

There has been massive number of studies conducted by expert to determine the origin of modern language. One of the most famous theories is recent study conducted by Dr. Atkinson of University of Auckland in New Zealand. Quentin D. Atkinson, a biologist and an expert at applying mathematical methods to linguistics, has found possible pattern in 500 languages spoken throughout the world. He believes that a language uses fewer phonemes the farther that early humans had to travel from Africa to reach it.

Experts believe that modern humans dispersed from Africa, and their language is at least 50,000 years old. In addition, African languages have more than 100 phonemes, while English language has about 45 phonemes, and some tongue like the Hawaiian language has only 13 phonemes. Dr. Atkinson believes that the modern human language was originated in the region of south-western Africa. He claims that the origins of language may evolve from the language of Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert. Their languages belong to a family known as Khoisan and include many click sounds, which consists of features of ancient language.

Languages are important in people's daily lives; it is our main tool in interacting to the community, and without a proper communication there will be no modern knowledge expansion. Despite all of that, there is still not that much clarity as to how this amazing tool developed in the first place.

When we think of the need for accurate translation services, most of the time, we think of translations between major languages. Trickier issues can sometimes surface with translations involving rare languages, such as Eskimo.

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